Discover nature's best hunting and fishing: the National Wildlife Refuge System.

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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Discover Nature’s Best
Hunting and Fishing:
The National Wildlife Refuge System
The National Wildlife
Refuge System is one
of America’s greatest
conservation success
stories. In its first
hundred years, it
helped save our
national symbol,
the American bald
eagle, from extinction
and has protected
hundreds of other wild
species—including—
fish, migratory birds,
and many other
plants and animals
and the habitats that
support them.
Hunting and fishing are American
traditions that date back long
before the Revolutionary War.
Today, hunting and fishing are enjoyed
by millions of Americans who cherish
this traditional connection with wildlife,
as did their ancestors. In addition,
hunting and fishing serve as an impor-tant
wildlife management tool in
many locations.
Today, with more than 535 wildlife
refuges nationwide, hunters and
anglers can enjoy the outdoors from
the salt marshes of the Chesapeake
Bay to the tundra of Alaska, and
everywhere in between. Whether
hunting waterfowl at Prime Hook
Refuge or fishing for bass on the lakes
of Tishomingo Refuge, these special
places offer hunters and anglers the
best of the American outdoors.
For a complete list of refuges that
welcome hunters and anglers,
visit http://refuges.fws.gov or call
1-800-344-WILD.
Hunting
Hunters get a warm welcome at more
than 300 wildlife refuges and 3,000
small wetlands known as waterfowl
production areas. Whether stalking an
elusive 6x6 bull elk, following their bird
dogs in pursuit of upland birds, or setting
a decoy spread for plentiful ducks and
geese, hunters find challenges and
rewards on wildlife refuges across the
country. Following are just a few of the
hunting opportunities that abound on
wildlife refuges around the nation.
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge,
located on the Texas-Oklahoma border,
is an excellent place for hunting deer,
dove, squirrel, and rabbit. In addition,
anglers catch striped bass, crappie,
and channel catfish in man-made Lake
Texoma. Just last year, one persistent
bowhunter arrowed a potential
world-record whitetailed deer on
this wildlife refuge.
Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge
encompasses 1.4 million acres in
north-central Alaska. Moose are the
most popular quarry here, but hunters
also come in search of black and brown
bear, and caribou. Visitors
braving the harsh winter are often
rewarded with a stunning display of
the Northern Lights, and during the
summer, the sun never sets.
Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, near
Alturas, California, has dozens of lakes
and ponds attracting 20,000 ducks and
15,000 geese each year. More than
7,000 acres of wetlands provide an
expansive setting for fall waterfowl
hunts, especially for Canada geese.
White River National Wildlife Refuge
in central Arkansas is the mallard
capital of the world, home to a million
ducks each winter. Steeped in duck
hunting history, the bottomland
hardwoods and the perennial mallard
chattering over this river remind
hunters of the days gone by. Whether
in pursuit of deer, ducks, or squirrels,
hunting the bottomland hardwood
forests on these 155,000 spectacular
acres is the consummate outdoor
experience.
Fishing
For Americans who like to fish, the
National Wildlife Refuge System’s
waters teem with opportunities. Anglers
are welcome on more than 260 wildlife
refuges around the country.
Freshwater fishing has been a popular
activity on wildlife refuges for many
years, and an increasing number of
visitors are discovering saltwater
fishing opportunities as well. In all,
over six million anglers visit wildlife
refuges annually. In addition to the
thrill of landing the “big one, ” anglers
enjoy spending time with family and
friends and escaping the everyday
hustle of modern life on wildlife refuges.
Here are a few examples of wildlife
refuges where the fishing is fantastic.
Many also offer hunting opportunities
and breathtaking scenery.
Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife
Refuge, near New Orleans, offers
urban anglers a pristine setting for
both fresh and saltwater fishing. The
marsh landscape supports a wide
variety of graceful birds, waterfowl,
and other creatures, making the
spectacular views one of the many
joys of fishing here.
Charles M. Russell National Wildlife
Refuge encompasses more than a
million acres in north-central Montana.
Fort Peck Reservoir provides an
abundance of walleye, northern pike,
smallmouth bass, and chinook salmon.
The prehistoric paddlefish found in this
refuge’s 40 miles of pristine Missouri
River grow to an angler-challenging
130 pounds.
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
at Tinicum, where one can fish year-round
amid the towers of downtown
Philadelphia, is among a growing
number of wildlife refuges with
facilities accessible to the disabled.
Anglers catch largemouth bass
and tiger muskie, as well as catfish
and panfish.
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge,
located in North Carolina’s famous
Outer Banks, has more than 12 miles
of pristine Atlantic beach for surf
fishing, where anglers can reel in
red drum, bluefish, striped bass, and
speckled trout. This wildlife refuge
stretches from the ocean to Pamlico
Sound, where the flounder fishing
is excellent.
A Tradition of Support
Since the 19th century, hunters and
anglers concerned about the future of
wildlife have made countless contribu-tions
to conserving the nation’s wildlife
resources. Hunters have helped buy
land for the National Wildlife Refuge
System for nearly 70 years through
their purchases of Migratory Bird
Hunting and Conservation Stamps—
also known as Federal Duck Stamps.
More than one half of a billion dollars
have been collected from the sale of
Duck Stamps since 1934. Ninety-eight
percent of the money is deposited in
the Migratory Bird Conservation
Fund and used to purchase wetland
habitat—some 5 million acres so
far—for the National Wildlife Refuge
System. As the nation’s first conser-vationists,
hunters and anglers have
provided more than $3 billion for
state conservation programs through
a hunting and fishing equipment
excise tax known as the Federal Aid
in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration
Program. With their support, the
future of wildlife is secure.
Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge | John and Karen Hollingsworth | USFWS
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
4401 N. Fairfax Drive
Room 670
Arlington, VA 22203
1 800/344 WILD
http://refuges.fws.gov
July 2002
When President
Theodore Roosevelt
made Florida’s tiny
Pelican Island a
refuge for birds
in 1903, he wrote
the first chapter of
a great American
conservation success story. And the
story of safeguarding America’s
migratory birds, endangered
species, and other wildlife keeps
getting better and better. Entering
its second century, the National
Wildlife Refuge System comprises
95 million acres, protected within
more than 535 refuges and thou-sands
of small prairie wetlands
that serve as waterfowl breeding
and nesting areas. There are
wildlife refuges in every state, and
at least one within an hour’s drive
of every major American city,
providing much-needed refuge
for people as well as wildlife.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
is a Federal agency whose mission,
working with others, is to conserve
fish and wildlife and their habitats
for the continuing benefit of the
American people. Under the
management of fish and wildlife
professionals, the National Wildlife
Refuge System has become
the world’s premier network of
wildlife habitats.
America’s Best Kept Secret

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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Discover Nature’s Best
Hunting and Fishing:
The National Wildlife Refuge System
The National Wildlife
Refuge System is one
of America’s greatest
conservation success
stories. In its first
hundred years, it
helped save our
national symbol,
the American bald
eagle, from extinction
and has protected
hundreds of other wild
species—including—
fish, migratory birds,
and many other
plants and animals
and the habitats that
support them.
Hunting and fishing are American
traditions that date back long
before the Revolutionary War.
Today, hunting and fishing are enjoyed
by millions of Americans who cherish
this traditional connection with wildlife,
as did their ancestors. In addition,
hunting and fishing serve as an impor-tant
wildlife management tool in
many locations.
Today, with more than 535 wildlife
refuges nationwide, hunters and
anglers can enjoy the outdoors from
the salt marshes of the Chesapeake
Bay to the tundra of Alaska, and
everywhere in between. Whether
hunting waterfowl at Prime Hook
Refuge or fishing for bass on the lakes
of Tishomingo Refuge, these special
places offer hunters and anglers the
best of the American outdoors.
For a complete list of refuges that
welcome hunters and anglers,
visit http://refuges.fws.gov or call
1-800-344-WILD.
Hunting
Hunters get a warm welcome at more
than 300 wildlife refuges and 3,000
small wetlands known as waterfowl
production areas. Whether stalking an
elusive 6x6 bull elk, following their bird
dogs in pursuit of upland birds, or setting
a decoy spread for plentiful ducks and
geese, hunters find challenges and
rewards on wildlife refuges across the
country. Following are just a few of the
hunting opportunities that abound on
wildlife refuges around the nation.
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge,
located on the Texas-Oklahoma border,
is an excellent place for hunting deer,
dove, squirrel, and rabbit. In addition,
anglers catch striped bass, crappie,
and channel catfish in man-made Lake
Texoma. Just last year, one persistent
bowhunter arrowed a potential
world-record whitetailed deer on
this wildlife refuge.
Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge
encompasses 1.4 million acres in
north-central Alaska. Moose are the
most popular quarry here, but hunters
also come in search of black and brown
bear, and caribou. Visitors
braving the harsh winter are often
rewarded with a stunning display of
the Northern Lights, and during the
summer, the sun never sets.
Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, near
Alturas, California, has dozens of lakes
and ponds attracting 20,000 ducks and
15,000 geese each year. More than
7,000 acres of wetlands provide an
expansive setting for fall waterfowl
hunts, especially for Canada geese.
White River National Wildlife Refuge
in central Arkansas is the mallard
capital of the world, home to a million
ducks each winter. Steeped in duck
hunting history, the bottomland
hardwoods and the perennial mallard
chattering over this river remind
hunters of the days gone by. Whether
in pursuit of deer, ducks, or squirrels,
hunting the bottomland hardwood
forests on these 155,000 spectacular
acres is the consummate outdoor
experience.
Fishing
For Americans who like to fish, the
National Wildlife Refuge System’s
waters teem with opportunities. Anglers
are welcome on more than 260 wildlife
refuges around the country.
Freshwater fishing has been a popular
activity on wildlife refuges for many
years, and an increasing number of
visitors are discovering saltwater
fishing opportunities as well. In all,
over six million anglers visit wildlife
refuges annually. In addition to the
thrill of landing the “big one, ” anglers
enjoy spending time with family and
friends and escaping the everyday
hustle of modern life on wildlife refuges.
Here are a few examples of wildlife
refuges where the fishing is fantastic.
Many also offer hunting opportunities
and breathtaking scenery.
Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife
Refuge, near New Orleans, offers
urban anglers a pristine setting for
both fresh and saltwater fishing. The
marsh landscape supports a wide
variety of graceful birds, waterfowl,
and other creatures, making the
spectacular views one of the many
joys of fishing here.
Charles M. Russell National Wildlife
Refuge encompasses more than a
million acres in north-central Montana.
Fort Peck Reservoir provides an
abundance of walleye, northern pike,
smallmouth bass, and chinook salmon.
The prehistoric paddlefish found in this
refuge’s 40 miles of pristine Missouri
River grow to an angler-challenging
130 pounds.
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
at Tinicum, where one can fish year-round
amid the towers of downtown
Philadelphia, is among a growing
number of wildlife refuges with
facilities accessible to the disabled.
Anglers catch largemouth bass
and tiger muskie, as well as catfish
and panfish.
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge,
located in North Carolina’s famous
Outer Banks, has more than 12 miles
of pristine Atlantic beach for surf
fishing, where anglers can reel in
red drum, bluefish, striped bass, and
speckled trout. This wildlife refuge
stretches from the ocean to Pamlico
Sound, where the flounder fishing
is excellent.
A Tradition of Support
Since the 19th century, hunters and
anglers concerned about the future of
wildlife have made countless contribu-tions
to conserving the nation’s wildlife
resources. Hunters have helped buy
land for the National Wildlife Refuge
System for nearly 70 years through
their purchases of Migratory Bird
Hunting and Conservation Stamps—
also known as Federal Duck Stamps.
More than one half of a billion dollars
have been collected from the sale of
Duck Stamps since 1934. Ninety-eight
percent of the money is deposited in
the Migratory Bird Conservation
Fund and used to purchase wetland
habitat—some 5 million acres so
far—for the National Wildlife Refuge
System. As the nation’s first conser-vationists,
hunters and anglers have
provided more than $3 billion for
state conservation programs through
a hunting and fishing equipment
excise tax known as the Federal Aid
in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration
Program. With their support, the
future of wildlife is secure.
Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge | John and Karen Hollingsworth | USFWS
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
4401 N. Fairfax Drive
Room 670
Arlington, VA 22203
1 800/344 WILD
http://refuges.fws.gov
July 2002
When President
Theodore Roosevelt
made Florida’s tiny
Pelican Island a
refuge for birds
in 1903, he wrote
the first chapter of
a great American
conservation success story. And the
story of safeguarding America’s
migratory birds, endangered
species, and other wildlife keeps
getting better and better. Entering
its second century, the National
Wildlife Refuge System comprises
95 million acres, protected within
more than 535 refuges and thou-sands
of small prairie wetlands
that serve as waterfowl breeding
and nesting areas. There are
wildlife refuges in every state, and
at least one within an hour’s drive
of every major American city,
providing much-needed refuge
for people as well as wildlife.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
is a Federal agency whose mission,
working with others, is to conserve
fish and wildlife and their habitats
for the continuing benefit of the
American people. Under the
management of fish and wildlife
professionals, the National Wildlife
Refuge System has become
the world’s premier network of
wildlife habitats.
America’s Best Kept Secret